Thursday 28-11-2019 - 15:03

Earlier this month, I attended the higher education sector conference Wonkfest, hosted by sector publication Wonkhe. I attended some really exciting talks, as well as taking part in a panel discussion of my own! The events I went to spanned topics such as racism in the academy, student wellbeing, how universities engage in the local community, student activism and trans inclusion, to name a few. 

One of the most interesting events was “I’m not racist but…” by Prof Kehinde Andrews from Birmingham City University. He argued that it’s not enough to get more BAME students into University spaces if the University doesn’t support them throughout their degree. Here at Durham SU, we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to support students of colour throughout their degrees. We want all students, especially students of colour, to engage in their education and thrive, which means making some changes to the current curriculum. That’s why we are going to be launching a project on decolonisation in the New Year, looking at how we can ensure all students actively participate in their education and this education is reflective of the world around them – in addition to reflecting on how the University as an institution has upheld colonialism.

Central to this is student activism, something we’re all about here at Durham SU. We want to show that students care about their education and won’t settle for the same old. This panel was hosted by two members of Goldsmiths’ Anti-Racist Action (GARA), among others, who detailed their work in occupying Deptford Town Hall in London earlier this year, protesting the racism they experienced and witnessed around campus and the casualization of support staff contracts. It was very inspiring to hear how and why they staged their campaign from them directly, and to think further about how to continue anti-racist campaigns here at Durham. Aside from this, it was generally a great opportunity to meet other officers from different student organisations and be able to share our work and learn from the campaigns they are running.   

I took part in a panel on student wellbeing, putting questions to Directors and Deans, asking them what they’re doing for students and what they think their actions will change. Wellbeing is a term we hear often, but sometimes it’s hard to make out what that actually feels like for each person. The panel investigated the duty of care that universities have to students and how university structures can embed wellbeing at their core. In times when NHS waiting lists are long and student mental health problems are rising, universities need to know where it is appropriate to step in and what services they can, and should, provide. If the university is to be a socially responsible institution it must investigate how the structures of academic life reflect students’ realities and do not put their wellbeing at risk.

If you feel like you are struggling, your first point of call should be your college – they have support services available to you for a wide range of issues. You can also contact our independent advice service, if there’s a particular thing that you are struggling with. Our advisor can talk to you about various topics, such as academic difficulties, housing, and settling in to life at university.